Cuan Sound - Closed?

[Aja]

I see there is a proposal, backed by the islanders on Luing that a fixed link should be built between Seil and Luing, replacing the current ferry.

What is making this proposal more attractive to fundraising - and the Scottish Exec, is that they plan to instal a 'tidal electricity generating scheme' to harness the 8+knots of current.

This will obviously impact both yotties and businesses in the area, especially to the east of the sound. Balvicar and Kilmelford spring to mind and to a lesser extent Croabh.

This may not come to anything, a new ferry may be the cheaper (read: better) option. Worrying all the same.

Donald


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[Twister_Ken]

What are we yachtsman but warts on the buttocks of Progress?

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[claymore]

As someone who has idly rested for a few hours at Low Water in Cuan Sound, I can only say that they should have done this a few years ago as it would have prevented me from ruining a perfectly good pair of Y Fronts.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[Ohdrat]

Next they will be proposing a Causway across the Gulk of Corryvrecken..

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[Deep_6]

Will it cost as much as much as the parli, whats wrong with a tunnel?

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[Rowana]

More power to . . .

<they plan to instal a 'tidal electricity generating scheme'>

Get a fair amount of watts here, I should imagine !

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[webcraft]

They'd better not . . .

Unless of course they dredge Clachan Sound and raise the Atlantic Bridge so I can get out that way . . .

- Nick

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[Aja]

Cleit?

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[Twister_Ken]

G-spott?

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[Aja]

Gets my heart racing every time!

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[stevebirch2002]

Hi Nick

Would you need another chart to find the Atlantic Bridge? How's work, welcome to us workers!! Had a great time last month, definelty come back next year. See ya

Steve B

<hr width=100% size=1>Albin Vega "Southern Comfort" V1703

 

[claymore]

Nah - they reckon that you can't hit the Cleit. We were going Eastwards towards Melfort just before low water. The silly sod who was steering at the time (Self) turned too bloody soon and parked in splendid fashion on the reef on the corner. Dried out for around 2.5 hours - very embarrasing although no structural damage done - other than to aforementioned Y-Fronts. Very loud bang as we hit and rode up - tried reversing off but stuck fast straight away. We've been through lots since and its quite easy to see how I did it!

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[Aja]

Don't believe what anyone says. I saw a lovely french aluminium yacht at a very jaunty angle on the Cleit. He did manage to give me a wave as we went past. Wonder if his good nature lasted till the tide got high enough to get off though. He was well hi and dri.

Surprised that the reef caught you out - the one where you turn the corner to Melfort? I thought everyone knew about that!

Donald

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[claymore]

No - the one where you turn left to miss the bloody cleit!

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Claymore
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[Aja]

What one's that then? I'm nervous enough going through there.

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[claymore]

Coming from Oban etc. Come between the pylons and past the ferry - Cleit rock is right in front of you. The proper way to do it is to carry on towards the cleit until the sound opens up on your left then do a 90 left.
The Claymore derivative is to go towards the Cleit, look around at everything that is going on, forget whet it says in the pilot and stick in the 90 left about 5 minutes too early, before the sound opens up. This way you will hit the reef on that corner. If the tide is on the ebb and the flow is with you this is excellent as you will have perhaps 3knots SOG to add to your boatspeed - giving a possible ramming speed of around 8 knots. The noise comes simutaneously with the bow leaping skywards and everyone shouting Ahhshiteanwhitrafecksthaanfeckmepinkyedafttwatahteltyetaeconcentrate.
The worst part of all is when someone comes past during the following 2.5 hours and gets their camera out. Its worse for them as they got a grand snap of my bare airse and several fairly ripe remarks.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[webcraft]

Re: Cuan Sound - Don\'t Panic Mr. Claymore

The Claymore Method can be a result of alarm caused by reading the pilot. It tells you that going E/S through Cuan you are in dire danger of being swept onto the Cleit by the tide, thereby encouraging you to make the turn prematurely and so meet a grisly fate . . . it is essential in these circumstances to remember the words of Private Johnstone rather than the gloomy catchphrase of Private Frazer.

If you have only come upon the Cleit with a mere three knots of tide rushing past then you need to try it at Springs about an hour after the tide has turned. Six knots is more like it, and there is often a foot high waterfall over the Cleit and extending out NE from it. Even at neaps there is usually at the least a pronounced slope in the water here, plus Llots of interesting swirly bits too.

I usually aim to pass within two or three boat lengths of the marker on the end of the Cleit . . . any closer and you risk hitting the reef, as the perch is not on the end.

When heading NE again having passed the Cleit, beware of a possible marker buoy/pot buoy in the water - I've only seen it a couple of times, dragged under by the tide so it's just below the surface and likely to catch the unwary prop. It was about two thirds of the way across the channel towards the Torsa side.

Be careful also if sailing through Cuan - the wind can be very fluky and sometimes dies away completely, and being ready for a possible rapid engine start is a good idea.

It's a fun place . . . the first time I heard of Cuan Sound was over the VHF from a very alarmed lady aground on the Cleit, which put me off trying it for years - but now it is our front door to the wider world, and we are getting used to it. Let us hope that familiarity does not breed that other thing. (But I promise to post if it does!)

- Nick



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[stevebirch2002]

Re: Cuan Sound - Don\'t Panic Mr. Claymore

Hi Nick

I found a much better way through these fast thinghy channels and that is to stay at the back and follow the other four Vegas in front of me. I thought it quite easy but then I was following you lot! Beats the tranqulity of the Solent and many thanks to you all for or few days of sailing Seil Island and the Cuan Sound.

Cheers Steve B Vega "Southern Comfort"

<hr width=100% size=1>Albin Vega "Southern Comfort" V1703

 

[longjohnsadler]

Donald.
I think it is incumbent on you to make sure that this does not happen.
Cuan Sound is the thinking yachtsmans alternative to the Sound of Luing.
Perhaps, 100 yards north of the perch on the Cleit Rock, as a warning to other boats not to turn too soon, we could concrete an effigy of the yacht Claymore, trousers at half mast? What do you think.

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[webcraft]

Re: Cuan Sound - Don\'t Panic Mr. Claymore

No worries Steve,

We'll take you through the Corryvreckan when you come up next year!

- Nick


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